UAE- May 28, 2021:

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has announced that any person or group has the right to apply to the FTA to reduce or exempt them from the penalty imposed for the violation of the provisions of tax legislation, provided that there is an excuse acceptable to the FTA. It must supported by evidence that justifies the existence of the excuse and the violation that led to the imposition of administrative penalties.

The FTA clarified that according to Cabinet Decision No. 51 of 2021 on amending the Executive Regulation of Federal Law on Tax Procedures, any person or group who is found to have violated the provisions of the tax law may submit such a request to the FTA to reduce or exempt from the penalties in accordance with a set of conditions. The FTA must be notified of the request within 40 business days from the end of the acceptable excuse. Also, the person must prove that the violation has been corrected, and the application for exemption or reduction is submitted in accordance with the form specified by the FTA.

The FTA confirmed that, according to the amendments that came into effect on 28 April 2021, an excuse shall not be considered acceptable if the act that led to the violation was deliberate. An excuse can only be deemed acceptable based on a decision made by a tripartite committee formed by the Director-General of the FTA. This committee will study the excuse and accept or reject it, and will issue its decision to reduce or exempt administrative penalties within 40 business days from the date of receiving the application. Applicants shall be notified of this decision within 10 business days from the date of its issuance.

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